Frozen Beverage Receptacle Agitation for Controlled Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machine-based coffee brewing systems face issues with maintaining freshness of contents, limited brew strength, and inefficient recycling due to oxidation of coffee grounds, inability to create a wide range of beverage potency and serving sizes, and unsuitability for recycling of used receptacles.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multi-function and multi-use dispensers with frozen liquid content receptacles that preserve coffee and other beverages in a sealed MAP gas environment, allowing for precise control over melting and dilution to produce beverages with desired flavor, potency, and texture, while enabling recycling by rinsing the receptacles clean of residual materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dry coffee grounds are stored in thin-walled receptacles for machine brewing, then convenience of use is improved, but freshness is lost due to oxidation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional thin-walled receptacle design with a sealed receptacle filled with inert gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide). This inert atmosphere prevents oxidation of coffee grounds while maintaining the single-serve convenience. The sealed receptacle with inert gas filling creates a protective environment that preserves freshness without compromising ease of use.
2Productivity
If filtered receptacles with spent grounds are created, then brewing function is achieved, but recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coffee grounds from the receptacle design by using a sealed receptacle that contains only inert gas and potentially a filterless brewing mechanism. The spent grounds are separated from the receptacle structure, allowing the receptacle to be rinsed clean and recycled. This extraction of grounds from the receptacle container enables both brewing functionality and recycling compatibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If single-serve receptacles are used, then portion control is improved, but brew strength becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of coffee from ground form to whole bean form stored in sealed receptacles. This parameter change allows for greater quantity of coffee substance per serving while maintaining precise portion control through the sealed single-serve design. The whole bean format enables stronger brewing extraction while the sealed receptacle ensures accurate portioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures beverages are produced with consistent freshness, potency, and texture, and allows for convenient recycling of the receptacles, overcoming the limitations of traditional systems by maintaining peak flavor and aroma without preservatives and facilitating efficient recycling.
Implementation Method 1
preserve coffee and other beverages in a sealed MAP gas environment
Implementation Method 2
controlling the melting of the frozen contents into liquid
Implementation Method 3
heating elements configured to heat the receptacle and/or the frozen liquid contents
Implementation Method 4
controlling the vaporization of the liquid into gas
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.